Bankers, veterinarians, nurses, dentists, firefighters, police officers, hair stylists, and even an entomologist were just some of the professionals who met with students this week during Lankershim Elementary School’s career week in Highland.
This year marks the 28th career week initiated by kindergarten teacher Gail Shaw, who has organized the event since the first one in 1995. There were three years when the event didn’t happen because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each year, the event brings professionals in a variety of careers to speak to the students at the school in 30 minute sessions, giving them a glimpse of future job possibilities.
Remembering the past 28 career weeks, Shaw said she has seen a lot in that time. Each year, there’s an average of 120 presenters, she said, there have been two earthquakes during presentations, horses, large and small dogs, cats, snakes, turtles, rabbits, a mouse, and she even had a pony walk through the office one year, not knowing ahead of time that the pony was coming.
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Paul Vacarello, a veterinarian at VCA Northside Animal Hospital, shows students a photo as part of Lankershim Elementary School’s career week on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Highland. (Photo by Eric Vilchis, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Paul Vacarello, a veterinarian at VCA Northside Animal Hospital, shows students a photo as part of Lankershim Elementary School’s career week on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 in Highland. (Photo by Eric Vilchis, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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This year’s career week was special for Shaw as it was dedicated to her husband, Steve Shaw, who died earlier this year. He was a captain for the San Bernardino City Fire Department, who was a past presenter himself. The two actually met for the first time when Steve Shaw came to a career week years ago, arriving in a big red fire engine.
The community support has been vital, Gail Shaw said.
“I could not do an event of this size without the many members of the community who are willing to talk to students every year,” she said.
“It is exciting to see the students get excited about the different presenters and what they learn from them,” Gail Shaw said. “The students are amazed at the variety of careers available to them when they get older.”
Even some former students have returned to the campus to participate in the week’s activities, she said.
